sports
Soaring World Cup ticket prices for players’ families and guests leave several FAs stunned
Average cost of one ticket claimed to be $3,000 (£2,200)
TL;DR
- Fifa's dynamic pricing model has led to increased World Cup ticket costs for players' families and friends.
- National associations that purchased tickets after an initial fixed-price window in December have seen prices rise.
- One association executive reported an average ticket cost of $3,000 (£2,200) for additional purchases.
- Fifa insists that sales conditions were clear and that FAs meeting deadlines should not have faced price increases.
- Concerns exist that smaller nations with lower budgets will be disproportionately affected by the price hikes.
- Fifa increased minimum qualification and preparation money and provided additional funds for travel, but some larger FAs still forecast losses.
- Fifa president Gianni Infantino stated that 500 million ticket requests were received, with all available tickets sold.
- Fifa's own resale marketplace offers some tickets cheaper than the primary site, but includes a 15% commission.
- External ticket resellers show falling prices for many matches over the past 14 days.
- US President Donald Trump expressed disapproval of the ticket prices, while Fifa defends them as in line with other premium US events.